• East Asian Journal of Business Economics (EAJBE)
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.1-15
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• 2018

Purpose - This study investigates the effect of MNEs' characteristics on the use of foreign currency denominated debt in the context of Korean firms. This study examines the relationship between MNEs and the use of foreign debt focusing on the accessibility to the capital market in addition to the motive of hedging against foreign exchange exposure. Research design and methodology - Probit estimation is employed for estimating significant factors in determination of the use of foreign debt by firms. The dependent variable is a dummy variable to indicate whether a firm uses foreign debt or not at the end of 2004. Independent variables include foreign subsidiaries ratio, export to sale, R&D expenditure to sale, and credit rating. Results - The results show that the interaction between the level of internationalization represented by intra-regional diversification and the strategic characteristics embedded in the region of entry affects the use of foreign debt. In case of a high level of diversification within the developing region with a strong pursuit of asset exploitation, MNEs are more likely to use foreign debt, whereas a high level of diversification within the developed region with a strong pursuit of asset seeking, MNEs are less likely to use foreign debt. Conclusions - The differences between MNEs in terms of intra-regional diversification, strategic orientation, and the accessibility to capital markets as well as the hedging motive affect the use of foreign debt.

• Journal of Korea Trade
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.74-92
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• 2021

Purpose - Utilizing a large sample of Korean firms, this study examines international diversification impacts on corporate tax avoidance and whether firms affiliated with large business groups (known in Korean as "chaebol") reinforce the relationship between international diversification and tax avoidance. Design/methodology - This paper hypothesizes that 1) international diversification is likely to increase tax avoidance, 2) the positive effect of international diversification on tax avoidance is likely to be more pronounced for chaebol firms. We examine the hypotheses by using Korean firms listed in the Korean stock market between 2011 and 2016. We employ the number of foreign subsidiaries and the entropy index as proxies for international diversification and CASH ETR and GAAP ETR as proxies for tax avoidance. Findings - Our findings are summarized as follows. First, we have found that as firms are more internationally diversified, tax avoidance increases. It means that international diversification can be employed as a method of reducing the tax burden. Second, firms affiliated with chaebol are strengthened by the positive relation between international diversification and tax avoidance. It is interpreted that chaebol firms have more effective opportunities to reduce taxes than other firms. When entering foreign markets, they can share experience and resources to decrease taxation within the large business group. Originality/value - This study provides empirical evidence regarding the tax effect of international diversification. Unlike prior studies, international diversification is positively related to tax avoidance in Korea. In addition, we present additional evidence on the chaebol effects of international diversification on tax avoidance, in which they have an advantage to reduce taxes using transfer pricing through related party transactions, income shifting to low tax rate countries, and establishing subsidiaries in tax havens.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.7 no.7
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• pp.343-348
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• 2020

So far, research into multinational bank' overseas expansion has focused on foreign direct investment in the financial services industry. However, this study focused its existing theories on multinational banks on decision-making related to the type of overseas advancement of local financial institutions. For research, four environmental factors were considered: the scale of foreign direct investment, the scope of financial services that can be provided according to the rules of the host country, the corporate tax rate of the host country, and the level of development of the host country's banking industry. Through Kotra, data on the total amount of claims from 2010 to 2014 and the regulatory status for the country's financial industries were obtained. Hypothesis are built around theories and survey factors and has been demonstrated through regression analysis. Results show that Korean financial institutions tend to expand as legally independent subsidiaries where the corporate tax rate of the host country is relatively low. Contrary to the previous studies based on the U.S. banking corporates, results show that Korean banks tend to expand in forms of branches to the host countries with high level of banking system development.

• Knowledge Management Research
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.13-24
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• 2012

Unlike the traditional belief that knowledge flows along the formal reporting procedures, recent social network research has reported the importance of informal social networks which may play a critical role as the real knowledge conduits. In fact, as a complementary approach of utilizing knowledge management systems (KMSs), many firms have focused on managing informal knowledge flow through which to acquire and transfer valuable knowledge in a fast and effective way. In a case of global companies that have newly developed foreign branches or subsidiaries, due to cultural or institutional differences and lack of understanding of knowledge management and its benefits, they often have difficulties in activating knowledge sharing in local branches. In these situations, diagnosing organizational knowledge flow through SNA can be a first step to solve the problems. Therefore, in this paper, I report on the result of case study on a foreign branch of "A" global company by identifying organizational knowledge paths. Based on the results of the diagnosis, some implications and insights for building knowledge management (KM) strategy specified for a newly developed foreign branch will also be discussed.

• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.99-119
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• 2006

The recent trend in the payment terms of international trade shows the gradual shift toward more diversified payment methods (from L/C to not L/C) in order to cope with the increasingly dynamic international transactions in a more flexible manner. The reasons behind this recent shift are as follows : first, the global trade market is breaking away from the traditional L/C methods based on letters of credit toward a not L/C methods. nother reason for the changing trade payment methods is the increasing volume of intra transactions between headquarters and their foreign subsidiaries based on collection payment methods. Having mentioned the above problems that impede the Korean export insurance system, some suggestions can be put forward through a comparative analysis with foreign export insurance system. First, inducing private investments is one way of strengthening financial health of the KEIC. The KEIC also needs to diversify its insurance coverage adapting to the changing international trade environments.

• Korean Business Review
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• v.15
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• pp.47-58
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• 2002

Samsung Electronics has 25 production bases, 36 marketing subsidiaries and 23 overseas offices in 46 countries around the world. Samsung Electronics global strategy involves seven main regions: North America, Europe, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, China, the CIS and Latin America. Samsung Electronics is dedicated to helping the local communities where it does business, helping to advance local economies and develop products that best suit local needs. This case attempts to introduce the localization strategies of Samsung Austin Semiconductors especially with respect to the community service programs. Samsung Austin Semiconductors develops a framework for a firm to adapt in a foreign environment creating corporate citizenship. This model surely helps the firm to adapt, survive and grow even in a hostile foreign environment.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.34 no.9
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• pp.1546-1557
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• 2010

This study analyzes the status of foreign direct investment in Korean textiles and fashion firms and investigates the factors determining their performance. A total of 1,251 cases (including 1,116 manufacturers and 135 of distributors from the 2009/2010 Korean Overseas Business Directory published by KOTRA) were used. The results of this study are as follow: 1) In the case of manufacturers, China was the most heavily invested in country, and the Asian region that included China, Vietnam, Indonesia and Bangladesh consisted of 80% total investment. In cases of distributors, China was also the first ranking country and other countries, that included Vietnam, United States, and Japan are major ones. 2) In terms of the foreign entry mode, wholly-owned subsidiaries represented 90% of total cases. As the index of the degree of localization, the ratio of local employees was very high. 3) Different countries were utilized by year, type of business, and area of process. In manufacturers, Indonesia, China, and Vietnam were the most heavily utilized countries in the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, respectively. For distributors, China was the major market ill the 1980s and 1990s but Vietnam has emerged as the biggest market in the 2000s. In terms of area of process, China was for manufacturing fibers and fabrics, Vietnam was for most items, Indonesia was for assembly, knit, accessories, and Bangladesh was for embroidery and accessories. 4) The determining factors of the age of foreign business as the proxy index and performance of foreign business entry, were different by the type of business. For manufacturers, four factors including the dollar amount of investment, number of local employees, the mode of foreign direct investment, and entry to China were significant. On the other hand, only two factors including the dollar amount of investment and entry (other than China) were significant distributors.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.1-41
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• 2008

The Korean semiconductor industry has made a great contribution to growth of Korean economy for the last decades by maintaining a top position in terms of Korean total annual export volume. However, the advanced semiconductor equipment and materials that are used for the production of semiconductor devices still depend on the suppliers from Europe, Japan, and America who have an influential position in the Korean semiconductor industry. The objective of this study is to empirically investigate the attributes determining the extent of autonomy in decision making for the Korean subsidiaries of multinational corporations in the semiconductor industry. This study found there were differences in the extent of autonomy in decision making in terms of the global strategies the multinational corporations pursue. This study surveyed employees at the Korean subsidiaries and joint venture companies of semiconductor multinational corporations and collected 726 survey questionnaires. Several statistical analyses including frequency analysis, reliability analysis, factor analysis, multiple regression analysis and ANOVA were performed using the collected sample data. Based on the analyses, this study found as follows: Firstly, from the factor analysis, this study found Korean subsidiaries faced three sources of uncertainties stemmed from political conditions, competent conditions, demand and supply conditions. The internal resources were characterized by the independencies of production capability, financial capability, marketing capability and human resource management capability. The operational performance was determined by total revenue, net profit and market share growth. Secondly, it was found the uncertainties from political condition and competent condition and the independencies of financial capability and marketing capability partially influenced the extent of autonomy in decision making. The independencies of production capability and human resource management capability significantly influenced the autonomy of decision making in the most areas. It was also found an increase of total revenue, net profit and market share growth partially affected the extent of autonomy in decision making of the Korean subsidiaries. Finally, it was found that the polycentrism of global management by multinational corporations seemed to bring a higher extent of autonomy in decision making than ethnocentrism or geocentrism of global management. Based on the results, this study provided managerial implications regarding the extent of autonomy in decision making for Korean subsidiaries of multinational corporations in order to help management to enhance their business capabilities.

• 한국벤처창업학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.135-168
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• 2008

The Korean semiconductor industry has made a great contribution to growth of Korean economy for the last decades by maintaining a top position in terms of Korean total annual export volume. However, the advanced semiconductor equipment and materials that are used for the production of semiconductor devices still depend on the suppliers from Europe, Japan, and America who have an influential position in the Korean semiconductor industry. The objective of this study is to empirically investigate the attributes determining the extent of autonomy in decision making for the Korean subsidiaries of multinational corporations in the semiconductor industry. This study found there were differences in the extent of autonomy in decision making in terms of the global strategies the multinational corporations pursue. This study surveyed employees at the Korean subsidiaries and joint venture companies of semiconductor multinational corporations and collected 726 survey questionnaires. Several statistical analyses including frequency analysis, reliability analysis, factor analysis, multiple regression analysis and ANOVA were performed using the collected sample data. Based on the analyses, this study found as follow: Firstly, from the factor analysis, this study found Korean subsidiaries faced three sources of uncertainties stemmed from political conditions, competent conditions, demand and supply conditions. The internal resources were characterized by the independencies of production capability, financial capability, marketing capability and human resource management capability. The operational performance was determined by total revenue, net profit and market share growth. Secondly, it was found the uncertainties from political condition and competent condition and the independencies of financial capability and marketing capability partially influenced the extent of autonomy in decision making. The independencies of production capability and human resource management capability significantly influenced the autonomy of decision making in the most areas. It was also found an increase of total revenue, net profit and market share growth partially affected the extent of autonomy in decision making of the Korean subsidiaries. Finally, it was found that the polycentrism of global management by multinational corporations seemed to bring a higher extent of autonomy in decision making than ethnocentrism or geocentrism of global management. Based on the results, this study provided managerial implications regarding the extent of autonomy in decision making for Korean subsidiaries of multinational corporations in order to help management to enhance their business capabilities.

• International Commerce and Information Review
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.227-256
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• 2013

Existing multinational subsidiary typologies seem to have limitations in two respects. First, the prevalence of subsidiary classification along two-dimensions fails to capture many distinct subsidiary types. Failure to reflect a sufficient richness in dimensionality can give rise to a partial picture of subsidiary typologies in the international business literature. A new typology developed from multi-dimensional approach will be required for reflecting various subsidiary roles in the multinational enterprise. Second, multinational subsidiary performing a number of activities is hard to be defined functionally across the value chain activities. In addition, multinational subsidiary roles can vary dramatically. In conclusion, despite a growing amount of work on subsidiary typologies, there seems to be limited convergence of results. the study regarding subsidiary roles still remain a challenge. In this respect, the purpose of this study is to develop a new typology based on multi-dimensional approach in order to overcome the limitations of traditional typologies. To classify subsidiary types, we propose 8 types of multinational subsidiary according to three dimensions that are adopted: (1) number of required value chain activities (2) subsidiary's sourcing capability and autonomy (3) global orientation (3) The case study analyzing Korean foreign subsidiaries appropriate for 8 types is performed to establish the validity of this study.